Mosaic Mennonites

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Nurturing Resilience, Together

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by Rose Bender Cook

Resilience is a popular buzzword these days. In the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program, resilience is defined as “the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt, survive, and bounce back in the midst of or after hardship and adversity.”   

All of us need resilience. Healthy leadership requires us to deal with our own wounds, as well as caring for others when they go through a hard season. The Bible contains examples of resilient people who overcame difficult circumstances and thrived:  Job, Esther, Paul, and Jesus himself, to name a few. Many scriptures encourage us to persevere in the face of trials. Proverbs 24:16, NIV reminds us that “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” 

There are times in my life when I feel like I am in the deep end of a swimming pool, with my nose peaking above the water. Whether it’s my own fault or due to circumstances beyond my control, the experience is the same. The smallest splash of water will send me spluttering and splashing to catch my breath.   

This holiday season, as the weather got icy cold, I thought about friends who have spent far too much time in the deep end of the pool. A blown tire, a lost check, or a bad test result sends them under water. They do not have any margin—financial or otherwise. That’s a hard way to live day after day.  

And yet, I see them smiling and playing games at Ripple Community, Inc. (a Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry in Allentown, PA). They will serve others in the kitchen at Whitehall (PA), where I am a pastor. When the check comes in, they buy their pastor a thank-you present. Like the widow who gave her last mite, they keep on giving. I can learn a lot about resilience from these friends. I also need to learn what my role is as I desire to help them.  

Neighbors gather at Ripple Community, Inc. for food and times of reflection. Photos provided by Ripple Community, Inc.  
Neighbors gather at Ripple Community, Inc. for food and times of reflection. Photos provided by Ripple Community, Inc.  

The greatest gift we can give someone is to offer support without taking away their sense of control or dignity. So, we walk alongside people; we offer comfort but allow them freedom of choice. This is how Immanuel, God-with-us, works with humanity.  

We ask them what they need. This is what Jesus did with people that he healed. We find ways they can contribute or serve. Let them know they belong and that their gifts are needed in the body of Christ. We listen to their stories of falling and getting back up again. The hope that undergirds these stories is inspiring.  

We create spaces where they can have some respite from the grind of life. Psalm 23 depicts God’s table of abundance, likely in a tent of safety, while enemies prowl outside. At Ripple Community, Inc., there is a quiet room designated for community members to sleep in a safe and warm place.  They can rest from having to guard their meager belongings. Someone else is keeping watch. Rest can provide the opportunity to dream and imagine a new way forward.  

Studies show that one marker of resilience is having a strong community network. It’s easier when we are all in the shallow end of the swimming pool together. When we get splashed, we can breathe without snorting water. When a crisis comes, we have lots of margin and our hands are free to support others when they slip.  

In this new year, instead of making a list of resolutions, consider what practices will help you be more resilient. Prayerfully reflect on how you can accompany others who are struggling. And be open to learning from them. Because together we will increase the capacity of our community to adapt and thrive in the face of hard times.   

Rose Bender Cook

Rose Bender Cook is the Leadership Minister for Formation and the Mosaic Institute Director. She is also a pastor at Whitehall (PA) Mennonite Church.

First Vibrant Mosaic Cohort Will Strengthen Rootedness and Increase Capacities

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by Jennifer Svetlik

Healthy, vibrant Mosaic congregations are shaped into the image of Jesus (our formational priority), transformed by relationships with others (our intercultural priority), and engaged in the healing of our world (our missional priority). Vibrant Mosaic, which provides congregations and their leaders with opportunities to increase congregational health, build common mission, and foster community by integrating conference priorities into church life, has announced the first Learning Community cohort of five congregations: Ambler (PA) Mennonite, Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite, Encuentro de Renovación (Miami, FL), Faith Chapel (Los Angeles, CA), and Peña de Horeb (Philadelphia, PA).  

Four leaders from each congregation will gather in person and virtually throughout 2025 for learning, spiritual practices, and deepening mutual relationships. The cohort will build resilience, common mission, and a sense of belonging as they participate in two intensive classes with the support of Learning Community Coaches, who will help the leaders to integrate their training and experiences into the life and ministry of their congregations. 

“It’s exciting to see Vibrant Mosaic coming to life after nearly two years of planning,” shared Vibrant Mosaic Co-Director Emily Ralph Servant. “In a world divided by conflict and distrust, it feels holy to create an environment for discipleship and building friendships among individuals and congregations who wouldn’t otherwise find themselves in the same space.” 

The cohort was selected seeking to balance congregational size, geography, language, culture, and existing relationships. Noel Santiago (Leadership Minister for Mission) and Josué Gonzales (Resplandece Mennonite) will serve as Spanish-English translators and facilitators.   
 
“English and Spanish are the top two spoken languages within the conference. We have multiple Spanish-speaking staff members and a growing number of Spanish-speaking congregations, so for this reason we chose Spanish and English for the languages in our first cohort,” shared Vibrant Mosaic Co-Director Danilo Sanchez.  

“It is a way to honor our current reality and help us live into our identity as Mosaic.” There are plans for the second cohort to be in Indonesian and English.  

In late February, the cohort will take the Introduction to Mosaic Conference course, led by Rose Bender Cook (Leadership Minister for Formation) and Jordan Luther (Methacton [PA] Mennonite). This course provides opportunities for each participant to explore their own pathway to Anabaptism in conversation with communal stories from Mennonite tradition and conference history.  

The students will visit churches and historical sites in southeastern Pennsylvania and learn about the spiritual discipline of rest and sabbath. They will also learn about church polity and how the church has traditionally made decisions about theology and practice.  

Though the courses within Vibrant Mosaic are similar to what has been previously offered through Mosaic Institute, the curriculum has been rewritten for congregations, rather than credentialed leaders, as the primary audience, and to include more intercultural content, teaching techniques, and the contextualization of learnings, with the support of Eric Law of the Kaleidoscope Institute.  

This summer, the cohort will gather in Miami, FL for the Building Mosaic Relationships (intercultural) Course. The cohort will also periodically meet to explore how to integrate their learnings and experiences into their congregational life.  

In the second half of the year, participants will lead their congregation in a process of naming an area of growth and, in conversation with their coach, learning community, and Leadership Minister, develop a learning plan for congregational growth. The congregational project may include external resourcing, programming, or events that can be underwritten by a grant of up to a total of $5,000 per congregation. 

The cohort has enrolled in a one-year formation process with the option to re-enroll for a second year to complete the program. 

“Vibrant Mosaic will allow our congregations to learn together, to explore together, and to build relationships across our geography and within our breadth of diversity from coast to coast,” shared Executive Minister Stephen Kriss.   

“This supports our strategic plan work of building leaders, relationships, and shared identity as Mosaic communities. I continue to be grateful for this work to help us fully embody our vision and mission together.” 

In addition to the learning communities and congregational experiments, the third component of the Vibrant Mosaic Program is support specifically for Leaders of Color. In addition to the annual Renewing Nations and Generations gathering that takes place before the annual Conference Assembly, an extended retreat opportunity will be offered for leaders of the Global Majority every other year.  

The first of these retreats will be held May 29-June 1, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. The extended time together will allow BIPOC leaders to build relationships, receive resourcing, and cast vision for their congregations in a restful space. In addition to Vibrant Mosaic’s funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., funding for these retreats is provided through a charitable distribution from the Schowalter Foundation.  

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Editor & Development Coordinator for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family. 

Ministerial Committee Update – December 2024 

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The Ministerial Committee makes decisions on ministry credentials and policies that promote the support, health, and training of credentialed leaders and safe church practices for congregations. They meet quarterly to act on recommendations from the credentialing committee, review and revise current policies around credentialed leaders, and provide leadership in cases of misconduct.    

Report from the December 4, 2024, Ministerial Committee Meeting 

Committee Actions

Licensed toward Ordination (LTO) – grants the person all the privileges and responsibilities accorded to an ordained person, except to ordain someone else. This license is issued for a three-year period with the purpose of testing the inner and outer call to ministry, further discerning of ministerial gifts, abilities and aptitude and may or may not lead to ordination.  

  • Karen Bergey – Salford (PA) Mennonite (Associate Pastor) 
  • Carlos Sanchez – Comunidad Anabautista de Paz y Reconciliación Medellín (Colombia) (Pastor) 
  • Manuel Garcia – Resplandece Mennonite (Pastor) 
Change in Status

Retired – held by those who have retired from active ministry. The credentialed leader must be over the age of 55 to hold this status. This credential is valid for performing ministerial functions and is to be exercised in consultation with Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Mosaic Mennonite Conference is not responsible for the actions of a person holding this status.  

  • Paul Long (Ambler [PA]) 
  • Beth Rauschenberger (Zion [Souderton, PA]) 
  • Joy Sawatzky (Plains [Hatfield, PA]) 
  • Michael King (Salford [PA]) 
  • Conrad Swartzentruber (Plains) effective 12/31/24 

Withdrawn – given when a ministry credential is ended for non-disciplinary reasons. 

  • Jenny Fujita (due to resignation at Upper Milford [PA]) 
License Extension/Change 

Move to Inactive – held by those who have been without a ministerial assignment for more than three consecutive years.  

  • Mim Book – Active without Charge since 3/1/17   
Action to Extend

Licensed for Specific Ministry (LSM) – grants the person all the privileges and responsibilities accorded to an ordained person, except to ordain someone else. This license is time, location, or ministry specific. It is not intended to move toward ordination. The person is called from within the congregation to serve in a specific leadership assignment within the congregation or another organization and may receive this credential. This credential continues as long as the individual is in a leadership ministry assignment within the congregation, or another specialized leadership ministry (church planters, chaplains, etc.) and needs to be renewed every 3 years.  

  • Tim Hart (Garden Chapel [Victoria Gardens, NJ]) extended to 12/8/2027 
  • Hadi Sunarto – (Philadelphia [PA] Praise Center) extended to 12/8/2027 

License towards Ordination (LTO) needs to be extended every three years. (see description above)

  • Leticia Cortes (Centro de Alabanza [Philadelphia, PA]) Extended to 12/8/2027 
  • Fernando Loyola (Centro de Alabanza) Extended to 12/8/2027  

Committee Discussions 

Credentialing Renewal Status Update – Associate Executive Minister Marta Castillo reported that only 21 people remain to complete the process. Administrative & Hospitality Collaborator Stacey Mansfield’s work is to be commended.  The pace has improved from three years ago. The committee will extend grace to those remaining until February 1, 2025. 

Committee Member Changes/Resignation – Mike Spinelli (Perkiomenville [PA]) has resigned from the committee, as has Tami Good (Living Branches). Names of possible new members will be sent to the Nominating Committee for consideration. 

Addressing abuse – Conference leaders are talking with GRACE about partnering on processing misconduct cases depending on Mosaic Conference’s future relationship with MC USA. Congregations need to develop their own policies to prevent and address abuse.  There is a sample policy available on the Mosaic website. 

Credentialing pastoral questionnaire process changes – Two pastors from Colombia were credentialed using the alternate questionnaire that we have developed. They completed all parts of the credentialing process.  The references were the most difficult to process. The committee will need to develop an online form to use. 

Associate Executive Minister Sabbatical – While on sabbatical, Castillo will be working with a reflective leadership grant to review and refine Mosaic’s credentialing process especially with multi-state and international credentialing and accountability. 

After Assembly, Three Congregations Vote on Affiliation with Mosaic Conference  

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At the Mosaic Conference Assembly in November, the delegates were asked to vote on the following ballot: “To affirm, with gratitude, the work and recommendation of the Pathway Steering Team to establish a robust partnership with Mennonite Church USA, and to bring recommended bylaw amendments for delegate discernment at the 2025 Mosaic Conference Assembly.”  The vote passed with 71% affirmation, which means that Mosaic Conference leadership will be working toward defining a relationship of partnership with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA).   

Following Assembly, the leadership of three Mosaic Conference congregations sought to discern their own relationship with Mosaic and Mennonite Church USA. Perkiomenville (PA), Swamp (Quakertown, PA) and Vincent (Spring City, PA) all had congregation votes related to affiliation with Mosaic Conference between November 10 and December 8.  

Perkiomenville

“When Mosaic announced a two-year Pathway plan at Assembly in 2022, Perk Church agreed to wait for the results of that process,” shared Mike Spinelli, Lead Pastor of Perkiomenville. “Church leadership understood that the 2024 recommendation from the Board did not result in a clear break from MC USA and asked for another year of processing.”  

Perkiomenville’s leadership called for a congregational meeting prior to the 2024 Assembly to give delegates guidance for voting. At that meeting, a member of the congregation moved for a resolution to disaffiliate with the Mosaic Conference since the vote this year was not a clear move toward leaving MC USA.  

This resolution was voted on at Perkiomenville’s annual business meeting two weeks later. “Discussion around the resolution included voices asking that the congregation not pass it and give Mosaic Conference one more year. This resulted in a vote that fell below our 67% threshold for major church decisions,” Spinelli shared. “As such, Perk Church will be a member of Mosaic through this year and will reconsider its ties to Mosaic when the new proposal is made in 2025.” 

Swamp 

Following the 2024 Assembly, Swamp’s Assembly delegates unanimously recommended to the Church Board that Swamp would leave Mosaic Mennonite Conference and shared this with the congregation. At Swamp’s member meeting a few weeks later, the Church Board shared a proposal, which had their unanimous recommendation, to “end Swamp Mennonite Church’s affiliation with Mosaic Mennonite Conference.”   

The text of the proposal indicates Swamp’s desire not to be an independent church and recognizes that a decision about future affiliation with a different conference will take time.  

The proposal also stated that during this transition period, “the congregation and its leaders may still partner with Mosaic for the sake of holding pastoral credentials, participating in the health insurance plan, and gaining counsel from the assigned Mosaic Leadership Minister.”

The vote passed by 92 percent. Details about the timing of Swamp’s departure from Mosaic Conference are still to be determined. 

“This is an especially difficult decision. We love Mosaic,” shared Lead Pastor Nathan Good in an email to Mosaic leadership. “We have invested time, energy, and resources, especially over the last decade. We have many important relationships within Mosaic. And the reality is that we agree with the Mosaic body on most things. There were many tears at our congregational meeting and at our Board meeting [prior to the vote].” 

Vincent 

On December 8, Vincent congregation moved toward disaffiliation with Mosaic, with a vote passing by 77 percent. It was initiated after a recommendation from the congregation’s elders stating ongoing disagreements with Mosaic Mennonite Conference. The ballot suggested that bylaws would be adjusted in January and that the congregation would move toward exploring new conference affiliations in 2025. The full disaffiliation would be recognized by Mosaic after the bylaw change is affirmed. 

“We recognize that some historic Mosaic congregations feel discomfort maintaining any connection to Mennonite Church USA. There is some tension around ongoing discernment about human sexuality within our Conference as well,” commented Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister. “I appreciate that these congregations remained in relationship with Mosaic while the Pathway process moved over the last two years. We honor their decisions and discernment. And we regret the potential loss of long-time member communities.”  

Let’s Dance!

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by Makinto

Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Leader magazine, and has been reprinted with permission.  

Some time ago, my wife asked me, “Why is there such a resistance in American churches to dancing?” The Bible references dancing as a valid and vital expression of praise (Psalm 149:3). King David danced wildly before God as an expression of joyful thanksgiving (2 Samuel 6:14). 

My wife is from Burundi. Throughout Africa, a primary expression of praise is dancing, where moving to the beat of rhythmic music is an essential component of life and, naturally, one of the most immediate expressions of praise. 

We thought about a ministry invitation to a Pennsylvania Mennonite church last year. As I taught one of my original praise songs to the choir, I encouraged them to gently swing from left to right, also inviting them to clap their hands to the rhythm of the song. It caused a stir in the congregation—some indignant, some amused, many interested, and a few very excited to experience a new form of worship expression. 

Movement and dance can take many different forms in churches, according to their traditions. The expressive spectrum ranges from singing without any movement to choreographed ballet-styled dances, or improvised individual dancing including stomping, twirling, running, foot stomping, and jumping. There are liturgical dances, solo or in groups, expressive and choreographed worship dances narrating stories, and free individual dancing prompted by the Holy Spirit. According to the theological tradition of a church and its ethnicity, dancing is either forbidden, tolerated, orchestrated, or highly encouraged. 

WHY DO WE WORSHIP? 

Praising and worshiping God is not just a biblically prescribed activity (Psalm 150:6), modeled by our spiritual forebears who witnessed God opening the Red Sea, who partook in God’s victories, and danced wildly in thanksgiving processions. We worship God because we feel a personal and communal connection with God, acknowledging that God is simultaneously God Supreme, Lord of an eternal and unlimited kingdom, and Jesus Christ Emmanuel, God incarnate, who died and rose from the grave to invite us to a personal and vibrant relationship with himself. As we give ourselves to God in spirit and truth, our personal and collective worship becomes a sincere expression of our adoration for a mighty, living, and loving God. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS DIVERSITY IN WORSHIP? 

I have been invited to minister in several churches that were declared by the inviting pastors as diverse. Often, they were white churches with a few Black, Latino, or Asian folks sprinkled throughout the congregation. The worship was still monocultural, occasionally with Spanish subtitles, or crowned by the lone “Siyahamba” sung to a rigid beat. 

Isn’t it important to have a diverse worship program in the church, according to our understanding of the church as a multicultural, multinational body? 

As a person of mixed ethnicity, I am by nature diverse, but I am also sensitive to authenticity. I enjoy a rousing African American church service with pulsing rhythms, shouting, handclapping, a big choir, and a band. I equally enjoy an a capella, congregation-driven, four-part harmony Mennonite hymn sing or a two-hour African praise service with drums and joyful dancing. Worship needs to be authentic, a true expression of the people gathering in the church, expressing their identity as a group. As a church reaches out to other ethnic communities and finds harmony in a kaleidoscopic congregational mix, that church community can express that diversity, pulling members of every community into the active worship preparation and execution. Mosaic Mennonite Conference honors the cultural diversity of its congregations by including various worship styles and languages at all its conference-wide gatherings. 

Culturally or generationally diverse worship expressions need to be authentic, respectful, and inclusive, not just in the choice of songs or liturgical order, but in the preparation and participation of all diverse members. 

I once met a group of young men donning blue mohawk hairdos at a worship symposium. Responding to my curiosity, they told their story: 

We are worship leaders of a midsize church of about 800 members in Sacramento, and our senior pastor is 85 years old. In his office hangs a sign: “I respect and love you more than myself.” He lives it out every day and has groomed us through his sacrificial love. The pastor and his peers cherish hymns. Loving us youngsters, he has given us complete freedom to plan and execute the music for all three identical Sunday morning worship services. We love modern rock and praise songs, and he loves hymns, so we play both hymns and rock in worship. After a time of adjustment, our older generation began to love rock worship, and our younger folks are crazy about the hymns. 

What a great example of an integrated and generationally diverse worship expression. 

SHOULD WE ALL DANCE IN CHURCH? 

This question reminds me of Paul’s teaching about speaking in tongues in the church (1 Corinthians 14). It opens with the beautiful phrase “Let love be your highest goal!” and ends, “Be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.” Stretching the text a bit by replacing the word prophesy with worship and speaking in tongues with dancing, we get a sense of God’s message: Worship is an expression of love. God invites us to worship in harmony with each other and to refrain from disallowing diverse worship expressions, provided they don’t hinder others from worshiping God. 

Worship should always be authentic. We don’t need to start dancing exuberantly in church if we don’t feel like it, and we don’t need to sing songs in languages we don’t understand in the name of diversity. But when it reflects the heart of the congregation, different cultural expressions should be embraced into our worship, to the glory of God. A church with several ethnic groups may include a variety of worship expressions as it seeks to encourage deeper relationships between its diverse members and ultimately show the beauty and variety of different worship styles, foreshadowing transcultural worship in heaven when a great multitude from every nation and tribe, people and language, in the presence of all the angels and the elders, will worship God and sing: “Victory belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). 

So, let’s dance? 

Reprinted from Leader, Summer 2024 Vol. 21 No. 4 © 2024 MennoMedia, Inc, Harrisonburg, VA. All rights reserved. Used with permission. 

Makinto

Pastor Makinto is director of Amahoro International, a mission organization promoting peace and development in East Africa, a Conference-Related Ministry. He has toured the world for 30 years as an international musical performer. 

The Gifts of Serving in a Small Town Church

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A Book Review of Brad Roth’s Flyover Church

by Steve McCloskey, Pastor, Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship

© 2024 Menno Media

I grew up in the Washington DC Metropolitan area and as an adult served in urban and suburban churches in places that included: Philadelphia, PA, Columbus, OH, and somewhere in New Jersey that was so busy and hectic that I didn’t have time to learn the name. I now find myself to be a pastor serving at a slower pace, in a small church, in a small town, in the second-least populated state of the country, Vermont. 

Reading author and pastor Brad Roth’s book Flyover Church: How Jesus’ Ministry in Rural Places Is Good News Everywhere has helped illuminate the experience of rural ministry. The book’s title calls attention to the miles of land in North America (between the airports of major cities) that has been called “flyover country”.  

The phrase suggests that these places (and the people who inhabit them) are looked over, looked down upon, and in between the airports and important places—the cities and population hubs. 

The beautiful hills of Vermont are not the same landscape as the plains of Kansas, but I related to the rhythms of small-town pastoring that Roth describes in Chapter 2, particularly his description of being in the wilderness. It is in the wilderness that Jesus is shaped, formed, and prepared for ministry. It is in the wilderness that solitude is found. The wilderness can also be a place of loneliness and temptation, due to the remoteness of these regions (Roth calls it “the abyss”).  

Roth notes that many pastors (rural, urban, and suburban) hold the mindset that “real ministry” takes place in large churches, in populated areas connected to power and influence. Indeed, real ministry does take place in those places, but not only in those places. We in rural congregations need the reminder that real ministry is taking place in our small towns too–and that we offer gifts to the Body of Christ that may not be possible in the large cities.  

We may not see immediate impact in large numbers of souls; but numbers aren’t what ministry is all about; the Good Shepherd leaves behind the 99 sheep to find the one out in the wilderness. And in interacting with that one sheep, in that remote place, the shepherd is in a place of influence. Every person matters to Jesus—and small towns and small churches might be able to see that more clearly in a community where everyone knows each other’s name. 

It is in rural places that farms are possible, and large quantities of crops and livestock feed most of the world. Jesus modeled finding spiritual sustenance in rural places, too. In small, slow, quiet congregations in farm and mountain communities, deep relationships are possible in ways to which fast-paced metropolitan life doesn’t easily lend itself. Rural places can feed us—body, soul, and spirit. 

It is in rural places that the early Christian monastics (the desert fathers and mothers) chose to pursue the contemplative life. It is in “flyover country” that humility can be cultivated and matured; we receive less of the often-distracting social reinforcement found in cities, and instead, we encounter ourselves and the Spirit of God in solitude. 

As I read Roth’s phrase “Where Am I?” in Chapter 1, I found myself called to the gift of being fully here, present to where I am, in the moment. As I read on, I began circling almost every use of the word “here” in the book, noticing how much being “here” is implicit in the call to ministry, wherever we are. 

The quietness of rural life presents an opportunity to attune to the present moment and place where we find ourselves. There is less traffic, noise, and distraction. We are rooted somewhere that can be a refuge and sanctuary from the hurried pace of noise-polluted places. We, in the rural places, in “flyover churches,” can offer retreat to those in the urban areas when their souls need respite. 

Roth draws on personal experiences that include the Pike Place market in Seattle to reading J.D. Vance’s best-selling Hillbilly Elegy to make sense of himself as a pastor in his Kansas context. But he draws even more from the Gospel according to Mark, highlighting Jesus’ ministry in the Galilean agrarian hillsides and wilderness as one resonates with rural life.  

Flyover Church offers a relatable, thoughtful read for anyone interested in the flourishing of churches—urban, suburban, or rural. Even in “flyover country”, we are called into the Good News of the kingdom of God, and the recognition that, wherever we are, God is here.  

Steve McCloskey

Steve McCloskey (M. Div, MPA) serves as the Pastor of Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship in Vermont. Steve is a volunteer firefighter, recurring columnist for the Vermont Standard, a recovering sinner and disciple of Jesus, and father of Jacob and Silas. Steve enjoys hiking, praying, and exploring the hills of New England and occasionally playing Nintendo Switch with his kids and their friends.

Mosaic Mennonite Conference Support for the Indonesian Church Amid Immigration Uncertainty

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by Hendy Matahelemual

In critical moments of history, faith communities often become a refuge for those who feel threatened and marginalized. This was also the case the day after Donald Trump’s victory announcement as President of the United States, when tension and concern swept over the immigrant community, including the Indonesian church members in South Philadelphia. Trump’s statements during his campaign about mass deportations created real anxiety within this vulnerable community. 

Pastor Danilo Sanchez (center) delivers support and prayer to the Indonesian immigrant community at Indonesian Light Church, Philadelphia.

Amid this situation, Mosaic Mennonite Conference demonstrated its commitment to the principles of love, justice, and solidarity through Pastor Danilo Sanchez’s visit to three Indonesian churches in South Philadelphia: Indonesian Light, Philadelphia Praise Center, and Nations Worship Center. This presence was not just a formality but a tangible symbol of moral, spiritual, and emotional support for the community facing immense pressure. 

The Power of Presence: Sanchez Brings a Message of Hope 

During his visit, Sanchez delivered a message full of hope and strength, reminding the congregation of the importance of leaning on God during difficult times. He quoted Psalm 46:1-2 NIV, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This verse served as a foundation to remind the community that, despite the external threats, God remains faithful in protecting and safeguarding his people. 

This message was significant both spiritually and psychologically. As fear is real for many community members, having a faith leader present and voicing support brought much-needed reassurance. Sanchez also encouraged the community to stay united, rely on the power of prayer, and stand firm in the face of uncertainty. 

Mosaic Conference understands that faith is not just about a relationship with God, but also a relationship with one another. During Sanchez’s visit, the conference reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Indonesian congregations in South Philadelphia, which are an integral part of the immigrant community. With its Mennonite background, rich in the history of peace and social justice, this support reflects the core values of the Conference: loving one’s neighbor, protecting the vulnerable, and advocating for justice. 

In addition to the spiritual message, the Conference provided practical support, such as information about immigrant rights and access to legal assistance if needed. This approach demonstrated how faith can be translated into concrete actions that help individuals and communities persevere in difficult times. 

Pastor Danilo Sanchez (center back) with the youth group at Nations Worship Center

Relying on God and Standing Firm 

Faith communities play a crucial role in providing strength and hope, especially in the face of threats, as experienced by these Indonesian churches. In this situation, the congregation is encouraged to remember God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10 NIV, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” This message serves as a reminder that God will never abandon his people, even in their darkest moments. 

Through Sanchez’s visit and the support of the Conference, the church community in South Philadelphia is reminded that they are not alone. Solidarity, prayer, and love become the main sources of strength to move forward, remain firm, and courageously face whatever may come. In God’s love, they find the strength to continue hoping, staying united, and being a light to the world. 

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.

Ten Thousand Villages Store in Souderton, PA to Close by Dec. 21 

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by Jennifer Svetlik

The Ten Thousand Villages store in the Souderton (PA) Shopping Center has its origins in a project called SELFHELP Crafts. More than 25 years ago, a few shelves within the Conference-Related Ministry Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Care and Share Thrift Shoppes gave shoppers the opportunity to purchase fair-trade artisan goods. 

SELFHELP Crafts was an effort by Edna Ruth Byler, originally in 1946 under a different name, to ensure that artisans who could not access a marketplace received fair wages for the textiles they created. In 1962, MCC began supporting these efforts to bring sustainable economic opportunities within under-resourced communities.  

Photos courtesy of the Ten Thousand Villages of Souderton Facebook page.  

By 1996, the program was called Ten Thousand Villages and had a network of stores across the U.S. and Canada to connect shoppers to artisans through long-term fair-trade partnerships in more than 20 countries. 

“At the time, there were no other fair-trade options,” said Martene Histand (Blooming Glen [PA] Mennonite), Assistant Manager and long-time board member of Ten Thousand Villages in Souderton.  

“MCC helped identify the artisans, train them, and helped them organize co-ops so they could all benefit from the sales of these goods. Women were the primary beneficiaries, and one of the primary outcomes is that they could send their daughters to school.”  

When Ten Thousand Villages places an order for an artisan’s crafts, the artisans are paid a fair wage, receiving half up front to cover the material costs. Once the order ships to the U.S. they are paid in full.  

Histand has worked in the Ten Thousand Villages store in Souderton for 22 years. She was first invited by her neighbor who was a volunteer. The store’s overhead costs are kept low by relying heavily on volunteers to inventory, stock, and sell the items. 

As interest in the project outgrew the shelves within the Care and Share Thrift Shoppes, Ten Thousand Villages moved to its own storefront within the Shopping Center and hired the first manager, Bonnie Moyer (Zion [PA] Mennonite) in October 1996. 

In 2009, Ten Thousand Villages in Souderton became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with its own board of directors. As such, it is considered a “board store,” part of the Ten Thousand Villages network, rather than a “company store.” In 2014, the store moved locations within the Souderton Shopping Center and became a sublessee of the Care and Share Shoppes. Care and Share is the primary tenant of the Souderton Shopping Center with seven units in the center. 

The store has been a beloved place for many Souderton-area residents to purchase fair-trade coffee, rugs, and gifts, with the assurance that the products were produced by artisans in safe working conditions and who were receiving a just wage for their work.  However, the location has also been a challenging place to attract enough retail traffic to sustain the business.  

Photos courtesy of the Ten Thousand Villages of Souderton Facebook page.

“Stores like World Market now offer products that look like what is produced by fair-trade vendors, but are made in Chinese factories, without the assurance of safe working conditions or a just wage for producers,” explained Keith Heavener (Salford [PA] Mennonite), Vice President of the Board of Directors. 

“Since the COVID pandemic, in-store sales have become an even bigger challenge. People are a lot more comfortable buying online than they once were.” he continued.  

Unless online shoppers indicate the Souderton store on their order, the store does not receive a percentage of the proceeds.  

In an announcement on Facebook on October 25, 2024, it was shared, “Dear friends and supporters, it is with heavy hearts that we announce our Ten Thousand Villages Souderton store will be closing by December 21. We are deeply grateful for your decades of support in helping us create opportunities for artisans worldwide. We hope to see you in the store over the coming weeks as we continue to offer our handcrafted, fair-trade products.” 

Bunyaad rugs are currently priced at 35% off, and all merchandise is 50% off in preparation for the store’s closure. “Come get a bargain,” Heavener encouraged.  

About a year ago, the Ten Thousand Villages store on Germantown Ave. in Philadelphia closed. There are still other locations in the region including Center City Philadelphia, Media, and Intercourse, PA.  

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Editor & Development Coordinator for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.